theodor neumann



(No Model.)

T. NEUM'ANN.

BILLIARD BALL.

Patented Jan. 9, 1894.

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\ UNITED STATES I PATENT UFFICE.

. THEODOR NEUMANN,0F BERLIN, GERMANY.

BILLIARDI-BAL'LL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.512,391, dated January 9, 1894.

l Application filed March 16, 1893.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODOR NEUMANN, a subject of the King of .Prussiaand Emperor of Germany, residing in the city of Berlin, in the Kingdomof Prussia and Empire of Germany, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Billiard-Balls; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, referencebein g had to the accompanyin g drawing,which forms a part of this specification, and in which I have shown myimproved billiard ball in elevation, with parts broken away on one sideso as to show aportion of the interior in section.

This invention relates to the balls used in playing billiards andkindred games in which balls and cues are used, and has for its objectto construct a ball at small cost which shall be of approximately thesame weight and possess the same degree of elasticity, resiliency, andother attributes of the much more expensive ivory balls; and to this endmy improvement consists in the novel and peculiar construction of abilliard ball made of wood, as will be hereinafter more fully describedand claimed.

Referring to the drawing, the letter A denotes the spherical body of theball, which is turned from a block of seasoned box-wood (lignum-vitae)of the proper size. While I prefer to use box-wood for this particularpurpose, on account of its inherent elasticity and close texture, due toits fine and homogeneous grain, other kinds of wood possessing the samecharacteristics may, of course, be substituted, if desired. Beforecutting and turning the ball from the rough wood block or blank, this issubjected to a steaming or other suitable process by which the sap willbe removed, and either before or after the ball has been cut and turnedfrom the wood, this is (after the removal of the sap) submerged into abath of benzine for a sufficient length of time to permit the benzine topermeate all of its pores, which has the effect of contracting andclosing the pores and thus increase the density of the wood, enabling itto take as high a polish almost as ivory balls. The wood, after the ballhas been formed and treated with benzine Serial No. 466,221. [No model.)

may be left either in its natural color, which is a pleasing yellowishwhite, not unlike ivory which has darkened by age and smoke; or it maybe colored (as in balls to be used in the game of pool, for example) anydesired color by the use of aniline or other mineral or vegetable dyes.After the ball has been shaped, but before it receives its finalpolishing and coloring (if it is to be colored), I bore out sixequi-distant recesses, B, of cylindrical shape, one of which is showninsection on the left side of the ball represented on the drawing. Intoeach one of these six cylindrical bores or recesses I insert ascrew-threaded plug, a, of lead; the recess having a female or interiorthread which will engage the threads of the plug of lead, as shownclearly onthe drawing. I then cut a disk or Wad of rubber or leather (Iprefer to use pure india rubber), which will fit the bore closely, andinsert the same on top of the lead plug a, as shown at 1). Finally, Iclose the recess B byscrewing into it a threaded plug, 0, of the samematerial as the body of the ball, and carefully smooth off and finishthe outside of the plug, so that it will be absolutely even with thespherical surface of the ball, without either the least protuberance orindentation. The ball is then ready for the coloring (if it is to becolored) and final polishing process.

The lead plug a, as well as the elastic disk I) and stopper plug 0,should, before their insertion into the recess, be covered with a thinliquid coating of glue dissolved in spiritus mm, which dries rapidly andcements the several parts together as well as to the threaded walls ofthe recess, so that they cannotbecome loose and work out by the constantshocks and concussions to which a ball of this character issubjected. Ifproperly made, a ball of this kind will last as long, and play as well,as the finest and most expensive ivory balls. Care should be taken inshaping the lead plugs a to make them of the proper size, so that thefinished ball will weigh about the same as a ball of the same size madeof solid ivory. It is also important to make the recesses B of theproper depth to give the fluished ball its proper balance and equipoise.

WVhile this ball can be manufactured at very much less cost than ivoryballs, or even the much inferior celluloid or composition balls,

it will be found (if properly and scientifically made) to possess allthe attributes of the finest ivory balls as regards specific gravity,resiliency, non-liability to warp or split, and appearance; the wavygrain of the box-wood being not unlike the grain of ivory. Of course,only the best and properly seasoned wood should be selected for thispurpose, free from knots, fissures, cracks or blemishes of any kind.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States- As an improved article ofmanufacture, the billiard ball hereinbefore described, consist- TIIEODORNEUMANN. Witnesses:

PAUL HALLE, WILHELM BUTTE.

